Fig. 4

Distribution of transplanted EPCs and injured endothelium in the carotid artery. a Optical sections and 3D projections of the carotid arteries. Scale bar = 500 μm. b The normalised mean fluorescence intensity of PKH26 from transplanted EPCs at different time points (n = 3). c The normalised mean fluorescence intensity of Evans blue from the injured endothelium at different time points. Data are shown as mean ± SEM. Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA with LSD post hoc comparisons in b and were analysed by independent Student’s t test in c. NS, no statistical difference; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. BI, balloon injury; BI+EPC, EPC transplantation after BI; SC+EPC, EPC transplantation after sham operation